Page 6 of The Summer Save
“You’re welcome,” I replied, with smug satisfaction that they’d left the gift out of view, so Jonas was still in the dark about it.
Part of me wanted him to ask to see it, just to see what excuse he’d use, but I knew him better than I knew myself at times. That would never happen. He would never let Amber know he was clueless about the gift. I wanted to leave him in the dark out of spite, but I also knew my daughter loved her father with all her heart, and for years, he’d been not only her ally but her closest friend. I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. “We’re so glad you like the journal. When we saw it, we knew it would be the perfect way to document your journey. I’m certain I’ve never seen a handcrafted leather journal that also had pages for photos before. We figured you could each journal daily or take turns, and then when you get home, you can add photos.”
“It’s perfect,” Wyatt replied. “I actually threw a blank notebook into my carry-on earlier, but this is much nicer.” He placed the card in Amber’s hand. “Open this next, beautiful. Your mom has dinner reservations soon. We can’t keep her too much longer.”
It was sweet of him to remember my plans. But something told me he recognized the tension between Jonas and me. The air was thick. It had nothing to do with our physical distance and everything to do with how I could hardly look at him. Amber slid the card out of the envelope and opened it. Wyatt caught the stack of bills that fell from it.
“We ordered Ngultrum from the international bank. Airport exchange rates are horrible and we weren’t sure how easy it would be to exchange or if US dollars were accepted anywhere. I know when we’ve traveled, it’s been best to have local currency if at all possible. We got it in small denominations, figuring you’ll mostly use it for souvenir-type purchases. I know you planned an all-inclusive trip and have pre-paid for all your tours and events.”
Jonas quickly added, “Princess, you have the family credit card. Use that for anything while you’re there instead of your personal cards. There’s no international fee.”
Wyatt attempted to decline the request. “Jonas, we appreciate it, but Amber and I want to do this on our own. It’s important to us.”
“We’ll sort out everything when you’re back. It’s not like I’m offering a house. I know you want to do that on your own. I just want to be sure you don’t have extra fees or end up with a locked card using it internationally.”
Amber turned her head slightly and wiped her face against Wyatt’s shirt. It was so fast I almost missed it, and I was certain Jonas had. Wyatt stroked his hand down her arm before pressing his lips to her temple. His silent way of comforting her when she was upset. I wished she would say something to Jonas about how insensitive he was being, but I knew she wouldn’t.
Technically, Amber had a trust fund and had received money for a home. She used part of it to buy a small apartment complex as a real estate investment because she made a deal with us about a house when she was a teenager. The only house Amber had ever wanted was ours. Jonas and I dreamed of moving to Seaside when we retired and making the summer house our home base while we traveled. Amber told us she planned to buy our house, and we could use the guest house when we were in the area. Jonas and I agreed to the arrangement and promised the house was hers. PJ knew of the plans and had said he was fine with it because it was far too big for what he wanted. He was more the condo in the heart of the city type. My husband’s decision to take on the new foundation and delay his retirement didn’t just change our plans; it impacted Amber’s. But Jonas was clueless. And Amber would never say anything. It wasn’t in her nature to say anything negative to anyone. Especially the man she’d admired her entire life.
For months, as Jonas’s retirement date crept closer, Amber had talked about her plans. She thought she’d spend the beginning of the summer on her honeymoon, then she’d enjoy some time in Seaside before we officially made it our retirement home. She’d planned to move into our house this fall. She’d talked my ear off about her plans for the house while she sat in my kitchen last month while Wyatt and Jonas were on the road. From new furniture in the living room to the way the office would work for both of them to new paint in the bedrooms. I knew all of her plans. The room that was currently my craft space would be the nursery for the baby she was going to talk to Wyatt about trying for after this hockey season. She wanted a little more time just the two of them, but she’d be ready soon.
In my rush to get out of town, I hadn’t talked to her about how she was feeling. But I also knew dealing with the change was the last thing she wanted to think about before her honeymoon. I was certain it would be one of the things we discussed for hours while she was in Seaside and Wyatt was at camp. Thinking about how Jonas’s selfishness was impacting our daughter made me want to spit nails. I didn’t want Amber and Wyatt to leave for their honeymoon with a sour taste in their mouths about anything. They deserved nothing but positives, so I offered one more wish before ending the call. “Okay, my loves. I want you two to have the very best time. Enjoy every moment together. Have long talks. Take walks together. Enjoy the sights and culture. But also spend time just the two of you. This is your time together, far from all your responsibilities. Savor every minute of it. I love you both with all my heart. I cannot wait to hear about it and see the pictures.”
“Thank you, Mom,” Wyatt said before blowing me a kiss.
“Love you, Mom. I will bring the journal and pictures to Seaside. You’re going to be so sick of hearing about it by the time I leave.”
I shook my head. “Not possible, sweetheart.” I blew them a kiss, then disconnected the call without acknowledging Jonas.
When Michael found out I was in town, he showed up with a bottle of our favorite whiskey and takeout from our favorite restaurant. The bottom of the bag soaked in grease told me the double bacon cheeseburgers were going to taste delicious. The video call with Annie and the kids a few hours earlier had me in a shit mood. Not because they said or did anything wrong. But because it was another painful reminder of how much Annie did that I took for granted. Her ending the call without a word to me stung, but I deserved it.
Michael set the bag on the small patio table. “Plates? Or can we eat like bachelors, right out of the bag with a napkin?”
Meredith and Michael divorced three years ago. Well, technically, they separated three years ago. It took almost a year and a half for it to finalize. I stood and walked toward the sliding door. “I’ll grab paper plates, glasses for the whiskey, and water for each of us.”
While we enjoyed the greasiest burgers on the planet, we caught each other up on our lives. “I’m sure you know that I’m still living in the apartment over my mom’s garage. It was a temporary solution to my housing needs during the divorce, but being close to Mom allows me to keep an eye on her and help out. A studio apartment at my mommy’s house isn’t at all where I pictured my life at 57, but at least it’s a choice. I can afford to rent or even buy something, but I don’t want to leave her. And she’s too stubborn to move into one of the senior apartments in the area.”
As I dipped my fry into the ranch, I nodded in agreement. “I get it. My parents are around the same age, early 80s. I’m not sure I’d want either of them living on their own. We’re in a different situation, and they have household staff. So maybe it would be okay. But it’s nighttime. I’d worry about more than anything.”
“Exactly. I don’t want to live in the house with Mom, but I like being there and checking in each day. She doesn’t drive anymore, so we sold her car. Now she’s giving me shit for the second parking spot being empty all the time, and how ‘if you don’t use it, you lose it.’ Which is not the conversation I ever expected to have with her.”
I snorted as I attempted to swallow my food without choking. “Never would have expected Viola to say that. So, I take it you’re not dating.”
He shrugged. “Not really. It’s weird. I basically know everyone who is here year-round, and Mer and I were together since high school. Girl code is in play for anyone who knows her, and it’s awkward as fuck to try to date anyone anyway. I either know their siblings or their kids. The biggest issue is no one compares to her. No one knows me the way she does. I’m not sure anyone else will fit next to me the way she does.”
Michael and Meredith were high school sweethearts. Technically, junior high, from my understanding. The summer I met them, they were already engaged and planning their wedding for after Michael graduated from Portland State. When I got home from a three-game away series and found out Meredith was in our guest room, I didn’t think anything of it. She had visited countless times over the years. It wasn’t until later that night, when Annie crawled into bed next to me, that she clued me in on what was happening. Meredith had reached her last straw. She told Michael she was visiting Annie for a few weeks and expected him to be out of the house when she returned to Seaside. The few weeks turned into two months. When she returned home, I told Annie I’d never let that happen to us. Now, three years later, we were at a similar crossroads to where they’d been at one time. There was no way I was going to let our outcome be the same.
The final line of Annie’s letter came to mind. When we return, we either come back recommitted to our life together or ready to meet with a divorce attorney.
As we finished our meal, I looked across the small table at the man who, other than my brothers, was my best friend. “I need your help.”
He shoved the burger wrappers and napkins into the paper sack. “What’s up?”
“I fucked up. And I need the biggest grovel, grand gesture, apology ever.”
He stretched his long legs out in front of him. “What did you do?”
“Instead of retiring, I accepted the offer to run my family’s new foundation.”